Karadyan Nombu 2112

From the Mahabharata

The sage Markandeya told this story to Yudhishthira, to show the greatness of a faithful wife.

King Ashvapati of Madra had no children. For eighteen years he kept strict vows and made offerings to the goddess Savitri, until she rose from the sacred fire and promised him a daughter. The girl was named Savitri after the goddess.

When she grew up, she went out to choose her own husband, and she chose Satyavan, son of the blind king Dyumatsena, who had lost his kingdom and lived in a forest hermitage. The sage Narada warned that Satyavan would die within a year. Savitri said, "I have chosen my husband once. I will not choose twice." So they were married, and she lived in the hermitage, serving his parents with love. But she never forgot Narada's words.

Three days before the appointed day, she began a fast of three days and nights. On the last day Satyavan went into the forest to gather fruit and wood, and Savitri went with him. While cutting wood he felt a sharp pain in his head and lay down with his head in her lap. Then Yama, the lord of death, came with his noose, drew out Satyavan's life and turned south.

Savitri followed. Again and again Yama told her to go back, but she kept walking and spoke such wise words about dharma and the company of the good that Yama gave her boon after boon, anything but her husband's life: sight and strength for her father-in-law, his lost kingdom, a hundred sons for her father, and a hundred sons for herself and Satyavan. Then she asked for one more thing. "You have promised me sons by Satyavan," she said, "and that cannot happen without him. Give him back his life, so that your word comes true." Yama freed Satyavan and blessed him with four hundred years of life.

Satyavan woke as if from a long sleep, and they walked home through the dark forest. The old king had already got back his sight, and soon his kingdom was restored as well.

Another story

This is the katha traditionally told by Tamil families who keep this nombu; no Purana source was found for its Tamil part.

In the Tamil telling, Savitri's vow and her worship of the Goddess are remembered with a special offering. Tamil families say that while she kept her vow for Satyavan, Savitri made an adai, a small cake, and offered it in worship. That is why the day is called Karadaiyan Nombu: "kar adai" is the adai made for it, and "nombu" means a vow.

Tamil families also say that Savitri's vow is remembered at the turn of Masi into Panguni, and so the nombu is kept at that very moment. Women pray to the Goddess, offering her adai with fresh butter, and ask that they never be parted from their husbands. In many homes the prayer is said in Tamil: "Urugaadha vennaiyum oru adaiyum naan unakku tharuven; kanavanai piriyaadha varam vendum." It means, "I offer you butter that has not melted and an adai; grant me the boon of never being parted from my husband."